Adam LaRoche Clears Waivers

Adam LaRoche cleared waivers, so the D'Backs can now trade him to any team, according to John Gambadoro of KTAR.com (on Twitter). The 30-year-old, who was traded twice last year, has a .272/.339/.489 line with 20 homers this season. That line is virtually identical to LaRoche's career averages, so this level of production seems sustainable.

The D'Backs owe LaRoche $1.15MM between now and the end of the season, plus a $1.5MM buyout on a $7.5MM mutual option for 2011 (the option climbs in value to $9.5MM after a trade). LaRoche currently projects to be a Type B free agent after the season, though there's no guarantee that his team will offer arbitration.

The Red Sox had interest in left-handed first basemen early in the month and the Rays and White Sox could also have interest in LaRoche's bat. Here's MLBTR's complete list of players who have cleared waivers.

Yep – it looks like LaRoche is having his usual second half, with a .900+ OPS and a fistful of homers. Like most Braves’ fans, I’d imagine, I would rather see him return to Atlanta for round three than trade for Derrek Lee’s bad back.

Please god, Kenny, either go get him or go into selling mode. The sox need all the help they can get to merely limp in to the playoffs. We need more pop and more starting pitching, I think the bullpen will come around. If not, start trying to trade the vets.

I agree I’m a little on the pessimistic side, but honestly, even if we make the playoffs, we’ll have to face the Rays, Yanks and/or Rangers. ALL of which eat our lunch year in and year out. An AL Central Title is not worth us limping into the playoffs only to get swept. All this is neglecting the fact that there is a very real chance of us being 6 games back after tomorrow (Thursday) having faced Liriano and Pavano.

Braves probably don’t want him back since he’d be yet another LH bat. And it would cost $1.5MM to get rid of him next year, which the Braves presumably would want to do with Freddie Freeman ready in AAA.

Lee will end up costing less in prospects going back to Chicago. LaRoche will probably demand a quality advanced prospect because he is relatively cheap for his production plus the option for next year is reasonable.

White Sox are done. Their Sept. schedule is tough compared to the Twins. I give up on them and it’s Kenny and Ozzie’s fault. Why would we not sign Thome and go with Kotsay all this time? Kotsay off the bench is fine, but not an everyday guy. Shame on Kenny for making nothing happen, and then gamble on a trade for Edwin Jackson, which turned up nothing (Dunn). I also think the Tony Pena trade was stupid, he has been poor at best for the Sox, instead giving up a quality prospect to AZ for him. Signing Linebrink for a ton of money was also dumb. Hinsight is 20/20, but Kenny has made some silly decisions as well.

I was happy we moved on from thome and generally liked Ozzie’s new DH philosophy but Kotsay was not the part that we should have used to fill that role. People forget how bad thome was last year with his base clogging and constantly swinging at crap low and away

How about a LaRoche to CWS for Stefan Gartrell? He is 26 and an OF who has power. Would be a great return for AZ to play LF or platoon with Parra. He has 24 hrs in AAA this year and has no future in Chicago. I would love this.

Why haven’t D-Back fans learned their lesson about guys with power and bad averages? Every player in our lineup has power yet they can’t advance a freaking runner. We should’ve traded Reynolds last summer and signed Placido Polanco. At least he can get on base. Power = Overrated.

Giants?
I know that LaRoche went on record saying that he doesn’t want to play in SF, but maybe the possibility of a playoff run would change his mind? Him going to the Giants would be the longest shot possible [from both ends] but I think this would be the Giants last shot at making something of this season. They’re running out of gas and look like they’ll pull the same shenanigans as last year when they owned the WC all year, then lost it with great authority in the last month of the season.
Even if they make it to the post season with their current roster, it doesnt look like they can handle the Padres or the top contending team coming out of the East and would probably be bounced in 4 games.
LaRoche isn’t a huuuge bat, but atleast he’s consistent.

When you take a sample of 6 years and his RBI & HR totals dont sway more than +/- 5 from year to year, then yes, I’d say “consistent”.
In LaRoche, you get 20+HR, 90+RBI per year and .270AVG, which SF is not getting out of Sadoval at the moment.

If he has a history of getting hotter in the 2nd half, then all the better, because he’s on his way to matching his career highs as is.